Posted on 12/11/2006 8:02:34 AM PST by woofie
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."
That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.
Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.
Stein's column about Reyes' answers was published on CQ's Web site Friday evening. In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists organizations.
"If you're the baseball commissioner and you don't know the difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox, you don't know baseball," Stein said.
"You're not going to have the respect of the people you work with." While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said it could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the intelligence community, Stein believes.
"If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the administration?" he asked. "You don't know how is on first."
Stein said Reyes is not the only member of the House Intelligence Committee that he has interviewed that lacked what he considered basic knowledge about terrorist organizations.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Yeah, but he hates Bush - qualification #1 for being on Pelosi's leadership team.
Assur. Nineveh.
"Quick! What's the capital of Abyssinia?"
That's a trick question. Addis Ababa
What famous bass player from Flint Michigan played with ? and the Mysterians?
Reyes is a Republican, right?
Oh wait.This guys not stupid. Can't be a pubbie then.
"Quick! What's the capital of Abyssinia?"
Upper or Lower Abyssinia?
The end result of giving women the vote. The "cute" candidates win. And government morphs into "Sugar Daddy".
It is going to be a lot longer than that. It took the Dems 12 years to regain it. We are not going to win the House back in two.
The "Culture of Ignorance?"
What 1950's Calypso singer went under the name "The Charmer"?
"You don't know how is on first."
Who is on first.
How isn't on the roster, but Rep. Reyes probably doesn't know that either.
Yeah, but the dumb ones are usually kept out of key committee jobs.
And it just underscores how unserious Democrats are about security. From among all of them, you'd think there'd be one who makes this one of a few specialties.
And let's not forget...dangerous to American national security.
Good God! Which ones are THOSE?
Surely you don't mean people like Waxman...:)
Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.
Abyssiniaopolis of course!
Silvestre, as I'm sure most readers know, is the candidate chosen by Nancy Pelosi to bypass Jane Harmon. I’ve interviewed a number of his colleagues and top counterterrorism officials over the past several months. Silvestre can’t answer some fundamental questions about the powerful forces arrayed against us in the Middle East. It begs the question, of course: How can the Intelligence Committee do effective oversight of U.S. spy agencies when its leaders don’t know basics about the battlefield? http://public.cq.com/public/20061211_homeland.html
So what?
So are the voters who elect them!
"What 1950's Calypso singer went under the name "The Charmer"?"
Let me take a wild guess, not knowing the actual answer but gaining clues from the forum where the question is posted.
Would that be Calypso Louie?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.